Video shows Border Patrol agents shoot dead unarmed tribal member
Bodycam footage shows the moment three Border Patrol agents shoot tribal member NINE times after he called to report illegal migrants trespassing on his Arizona home – as autopsy rules his death as homicide
- Raymond Mattia, 58, was killed outside his home in the Tohono O’odham Nation
- He had reportedly tossed a sheathed machete in front of an officer before
- Video shows agents telling Mattia to not move as he laid motionless on the ground
Bodycam footage captured the horrific moment Border Patrol agents shot dead a tribal member in Arizona who had allegedly called them to report undocumented immigrants on his property.
Raymond Mattia, 58, was killed on May 18 outside his home in the Menagers Dam Village of the Tohono O’odham Nation, just a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Three agents shot Mattia nine time, according to a Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy report released Friday. His cause of death was ruled a homicide.
Video released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Thursday shows the shooting as well as the moments before and after.
Agents are seen approaching Mattia’s home in the dark after they respond to a 911 call about a shooting.
Raymond Mattia, 58, was killed by police on May 18 outside his home in the Menagers Dam Village of the Tohono O’odham Nation
Video released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Thursday shows the shooting
The agents refrain from getting close to Mattia for a few minutes as they demand the dying man put his hands out
When they spot Mattia coming out of his house, they are heard instructing him to ‘put that down’ and to put his hand out of his pocket.
When Mattias puts his hand out of his pocket while holding a dark object, the three agents shoot him multiple times through a fence made of sticks and barbed wire.
Once the fire ceases, a cellphone can be seen lying near Mattia, and agents are heard asking repeatedly if anyone can spot a rifle on or around him.
One agent is then heard yelling: ‘Put your hands out, bro. You’re gonna get shot again.’
Another says, ‘put your hands up so we can help you!’
The agents refrain from getting close to Mattia for a few minutes as they demand the dying man put his hands out. As one agent approaches Mattia’s body on the ground as he is heard moaning, he is heard saying the man could still have a gun.
Eventually the officers reach Mattia’s body and handcuff him as blood is seen staining his sweatshirt.
According to Border Patrol, Mattia had tossed a sheathed machete in front an officer as agents approached.
‘He threw the machete at us, dude,’ an officer is heard saying as they inspect the body.
While CPR was performed and EMS were called to the scene, Mattia died later that night.
The autopsy report states Mattia was shot once in the back as well as in his abdomen, shoulder, buttock, forearm, elbow and both thighs.
Methamphetamine, alcohol, amphetamine and oxycodone were found in Mattia’s body, according to the toxicology report.
A relative who did not want to be identified told News 4 Tucson that Raymond had called to request assistance from Border Patrol regarding ‘multiple illegal immigrants who had trespassed into his yard’ and asked to use his telephone and bathroom.
‘They told us there was an estimated 38 shots fired at him,’ the relative told the local news outlet. ‘You know that’s excessive and we want justice and we want to know what happened and why there were so many Border Patrol out there shooting at him.’
The relative added that Mattia often called Border Patrol to report migrants on his property.
Eventually the officers reach Mattia’s body and handcuff him as blood is seen staining his sweatshirt
Mattia’s family and loved ones organized two protests outside Border Patrol stations in Tucson and near the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation
Border Patrol, however, has said they were in the area to investigate reports of a shooting. The 911 call at the beginning of the police footage indeed shows officers responding to a shooting.
Police have not revealed how many times Mattia was shot.
Mattias’ friends and family have said he was a well regarded member of the tribal community known as an artist, ceremony person and traditional hunter and singer.
His loved ones organized two protests outside Border Patrol stations in Tucson and near the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation.
DailyMail.com has reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for comment on this story.
The agency’s National Use of Force Review Board said it will review the shooting to determine if the agents ‘followed CBP policy regarding the permissible use of force.’
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